Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin today announced the setting up of a book park in Tamilnadu and the State government will provide land for it.
Speaking after presenting awards to eminent personalities, Tamil scholars and organisations in recognition of their contributions to the development of Tamil, the Chief Minister said the ‘Puthaga Poonga’ (book park) will be set up in consultation with the Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI).
The book park will be a one-stop solution for book-lovers, he said, adding, the State government will provide necessary land for it.
Referring to an announcement made by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that the State would provide land for establishing the book park, Stalin said, ‘If this book park is set up, one can buy all books at one place. Publishers and sellers could meet.’
Stalin also announced that every year on June three Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Tamil classical award–named after Karunanidhi–will be presented to an eminent scholar to mark the birth anniversary of the late leader. The award will carry a citation and a purse of Rs 10 lakh, he said.
Stalin conferred the Thiruvalluvar Award for 2022 on late scholar M Meenakshi Sundaram, and it was received by his wife Vasantha.
Historian K Thirunavukkarasu received the Thanthai Periyar Award for 2021, while retired Madras High Court judge K. Chandru was presented the Annal Ambedkar Award for 2021.
The Perarignar Anna (named after dravidian stalwart and late CM CN Annadurai) award for 2021 was given to Nanjil Sampath, while Perunthalaivar Kamaraj award was presented to former TNCC president Kumari Ananthan.
Bharathi Krishnakumar received the Mahakavi Bharathiar Award and Senthalai N Gowthaman received the Paventhar Bharathidasan Award.
M Rajendran received the Muthamizh Kaavalar K A P Viswanatham Award, Bharathi Bhaskar received the Kambar Award and Surya Xavier received the Sollin Selvar Award.
Senior journalist A S Panneerselvam received the G U Pope Award and N Mamad received the Umaruppulavar Award.
Nellai Kannan received the Ilango Adigal Award and K Arasendhiran received the Devaneya Paavanar Award. Madhukkur Ramalingam received the Singaravelar Award and Sugi Sivam received the Maraimalai Adigalar Award. R Sanjeevirayar received the Arutperunjothi Vallalar Award and Gnana. Aloysius received the Iyothee Das Pandithar Award. The Chief Minister Kanini Thamizh Award was conferred on V Dhanalakshmi.
The Chief Minister also presented the S P Adithanar Award for 2021 on ‘Uyirmai’, a magazine and it was received by iIts editor S Abdul Hameed, alias Manushya Puthiran.
The Tamil Thai Award for 2021 was conferred on Malaysia Tamil Ezhuthalar Sangam. Its office-bearers P Rajendran, Simon Gnanamuthu and Muniyandi Maruthan received the award.